Removable cover for upholstered articles of furniture



Sept. 1l, 1951 J. R. RUSSELL 2,567,579

REMOVABLE COVER FOR UPHOLSTERED ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed Sept. 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Septl1, 1951 J. R. RUSSELL REMOVABLE COVER FOR UPHOLSTERED ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed Sept. 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 me/whoa Jlz'cz yca? Fussell /Oitnrnelj FIELS Patented Sept. 11`, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COVER Fon UBnoLs'rERED ARTICLES lor FURNITURE Julia Ryan Russell, Columbus, Ohio Application september 14, 1949, serial No. 115,739

This invention relates to upholstered articles of house furniture and, 'more particularly, to coverings for such articles and their 'mode of at"- tachment to associated 'supporting frames.

One of the Iobjects of the present invention is to provide a fabric, or other similar flexible sheet material, furniture covering formed so that the same may be quickly and securely applied to `or removed from the frame 'of a chair or other .ari ticle of furniture, in an easy and readily performed manner.

Another object is to provide va 'removable 'chair covering which when in its applied 'position on a chair frame is maintained in a 'desired 'stretched or taut condition, so that the saine 'presents a smooth, unwrinkled and flat appearance vcharacteristic of covering materials which are tacked to chair frames.

A further Objectis to provide v`a tautly applied covering for upholstered chairs *and lthe like which while readily removable from 'an associated frame for cleaning, repair or renovating, never'- theless constitutes the primary wearir'eceiving 'and appearance-controlling covering `for such a chair, rather than -a mere protective supplement or addition thereto as in the case 4oi "conventional slip covers.

A still further object l'of 'the invention 'is to vprovide a chair frame 'adapted to 'receive such a covering, and wherein the fraine between its padded seat, arm and back members 'is provided with a plurality of narrow slots 'through 'which the material of the covering may be drawn 4for iirrn and 'taut application 'in connection with the chair members.

For a further understanding vof additional ob'- jects and advantages 'of the invention, and its specific details of construction, reference yis to -be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is la perspective 'view of an upholstered chair having applied thereto afcoveringiormed'in accordance with the'bresent invention;

Fig. 2 is "a'verti'calsectional view taken through the chair on the `plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3 -3 "of Fig. l2;

Fig. 4 'is a horizontal sectional view 'taken on the plane disclosed bythe lin'e 4-4 'of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 'is a bottoi`n Aplan 'view of "the 'chair with 'the covering in its applied "position "thereon Fig. 46 'is a detail 'perspectivefview looking to- Wai'dtle rear 'of v-the their "'ar'd disclosing 'parts 8 Claims. Cl. 155-182) 2 of 'the covering separated to illustrate normally concealed parts of the covering.

Referring to the drawings, my invention has been illustrated in connection with an upholstered or padded chair, although its features of construction are applicable to various other artioles of upholstered furniture such as sofas, couches, davenports, settees andthe like.

In the chair illustrated, there is provided 'a frame consisting of upright corner legs I E] which between the ends thereof are connected with 'a horizontally disposed seat board II. Mounted on the upper surface of the board Il are the cushioned or padded `elements of the chair seat I2 and, similarly, the frame of the chair efffects the rigid support of upholstered arms I3 and a back I4. This chair construction is conventional except that the adjacent cushioned surfaces of the members I2, I3 and I4 are suffrc'ientl'y separable to form restricted slits or slots 32 between the lower portions of the arms I3 and the 'upper marginal portions of the seat 4II and, similarly, slits or slots 2| between the lower portions of the back Ill and adjacent upper portions of the seat I2, as is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

My improved covering C for 'such an article of furniture may be formed from any vsuitable wear-resisting and appearance-determining ma'- terial commonly used in chair upholstery, such as woven fabrics or vnatural or artificial leathers.

The covering is cut, fashioned and stitched to provide a back-engaging anterior layer II, designed to cover the front of the chair back and extend over the upper edge thereof as indicated at I8| the portion I8 being secured by means of stitching or the like I9 to. a posterior layer 2i) which covers the rear surface of the chair back, as indicated in Fig. 2. The front layer Il of the back covering is extended through the slot or slit 2l formed in the chair between the seat and back members thereof. The lower portion 'of the layer I'I, after vpassing through the slot or slit 2l extends downwardly at the rear of the seat I2, having its lower marginal portion secured as by stitching or the like 22 to the corresponding portion of the top layer 23 of the seat cover.

YThe top layer 23 at the front 'of the chair 'terminates in a depending apron 24 which has its bottom board of the chair seat vand has its rear or free marginal'edge provided, in this instance,

with a multiplicity of hook elements 21 which engage with metallic eye members 28 secured to the lower marginal edges of the covering layers 20 and 23. The hook elements 21 and the eye members 28 constitute separable mechanical fasteners, and in this regard it will be understood that various other types of separable mechanical fasteners may be used in the attachment of the covering, including snap and slide fasteners.

The coveringr is applied to the arms of the chair in a corresponding manner. On each of the arms, the covering includes an inner layer 29 which extends over the top of the arms and through stitching 3i) is united with an outer layer 3| covering the outer sides of the arms. Each of the inner layers 29 extends, in common with the top layer 23 of the seat covering, through narrow elongated slots or slits 32 formed in the chair construction between the seat and arm members thereof, as indicated in Fig. 3. The lower marginal edges of the inner layers of the side arms and the top layer of the seat structure are united by stitching t3, which stitching is also employed in securing to these covering layers a pair of flexible fastening extensions til. The latter extend beneath the seat board Il above the bottom layer 2t, as shown in Fig. 3, and have their meeting edges secured in a taut manner by means of the separable mechanical fasteners indlcated at 35. The latter, when united, serve to draw the top layer of the seat structure and the inner layers of the side arms into firm unwrinkled engagement with their respective chair members. Similarly, rm attachment of the outer layers of the covering is obtained by providing the outer layers 3l of the covering which protect the chair sides at the rear of the chair, as shown in Fig. 6, with separable fasteners 3G adapted for engagement with corresponding fasteners 3i provided on the adjacent marginal edges of the posterior layer Ztl of the chair back. The fasteners 36 and 3i when joined draw the outer layers of the side arms and the rear layer of the chair back covering into a firmly retained relationship in which such outer layers are drawn into taut, unwrinkled, snug-fitting engagement with the chair body.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a removable upholstered covering for chairs and similar articles of furniture which while readily removable from an associated chair presents when in its app-lied position the appearance of a covering which has been tacked and more or less permanently secured to the chair. With the present invention, however, by merely separating the mechanical fasteners, indicated at 2 and 28, employed in uniting the seat and back layers of the covering, the fasteners 35 employed in holding the seat covering in position, and the fasteners and. 3l used at the back of the chair in holding the outer layers of the covering in position, the entire covering may be quickly detached and removed from the chair as a unit, in order that the same with maximum convenience may be suitably cleansed or otherwise renovated after a given period of usage. When applied, the covering conforms snugly to the exact configuration of the exterior surfaces of the chair frame or body and presents in every way the appearance of a conventionally upholstered chair.

If desired, the cover may be provided around the lower boundaries thereof with a fiounce indicated at 36', said flounce being used to conceal the legs IU of the article of furniture.

It will be evident that the inner and outer layers or panels l'l and 20 of the cover constitute an envelope for the reception of the back structure I4 of a chair or other article of furniture. Likewise, the inner and outer layers or panels 29 and 3l form envelopes for the reception of the vertical side arms of the chair. The top layer or panel 23 of the seat structure has its lower margins permanently secured as by the stitching 33 to the inner Vpanels Il and 29 of the back and side arm envelopes. By being so secured, these inner panels may be drawn through the slots 2l and 32 and tautly secured in operating positions by the securing extensions provided by the exible tapes or bands shown at 2u and 36, the latter passing beneath the seat of the chair, and vhave their ends detachably united by the securing means indicated at 21, 28 and 35. The construction provides for great convenience in the application and removal of the cover to and from an associated article of furniture, and, when applied, enables the cover to present a smooth, unwrinkled and attractive appearance.

While I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred form of the present invention, nevertheless, it will be understood that the construction is subject to certain variation and modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim;

1. A removable upholstery cover for articles of furniture, comprising a flexible sheeting embodying united back, side arm and seat-covering envelopes formed to receive and correspond with the configuration of the corresponding parts of an associated article of furniture, said back and arm envelopes each including inner and outer panels, said seat envelope embodying a top panel shaped to extend over the top of the seat oi' an associated article of furniture, the top panel of the seat envelope and the inner panels of the side arm and back envelopes being permanently united by stitching along their adjacent lower marginal edges, the top p-anel of the seat-covering envelope having additionally secured to its lower marginal edges at its front and sides a plurality of flexible fastening bands extending in overlapping order beneath the seat of an associated article of furniture, and means for separably fastening the ends of said bands in a manner maintaining the entire cover in an applied position on the associated article of furniture.

2. A removable upholstery cover for articles of furniture, comprising a flexible sheeting embodying united back, side arm and seat-Covering envelopes formed to receive and correspond with the configuration of the corresponding parts ol' an associated article of furniture, said back and arm envelopes each including inner and outer panels, said seat envelope embodying a top panel shaped to extend over the top of the seat of an associated article of furniture, the top panel of the seat envelope and the inner panels of the side arm and back envelopes being permanently united by stitching along their adjacent lower marginal edges, the top panel of the seat-covering envelope having additionally secured to its lower marginal edges at its front and sides a plurality of flexible fastening bands so formed and positioned as to extend beneath the seat of an associated article of furniture, means separably fastening the ends of said bands beneath said seat in a manner maintaining the entire cover in an applied position on the associated article of furni-4 ture, the bands attached to the sides of the top panel of the seat covering envelope being terminated beneath the central region of the seat of the associated article of furniture and united by said fastening means, and the band attached to the forward edge of said top panel having its free end separably attached to the back edge of said top panel.

3. A removable upholstery cover for articles of furniture, comprising a flexible sheeting embodying united back, side arm and seat-covering envelopes formed to receive and correspond with the configuration of the corresponding parts of an associated article of furniture, said back and arm envelopes each including inner and outer panels, said seat envelope embodying a top panel shaped to extend over the top of the seat of an associated article of furniture, the top panel of theseat envelope and the inner panels of the side arm and back envelopes being permanently united by stitching along their adjacent lower marginal edges, the top panel of the seat-covering envelope having additionally secured to its lower marginal edges at its front and sides a plurality of flexible fastening bands so formed and positioned as to extend beneath the seat of an associated article of furniture, means for separably fastening the ends of said bands in a manner maintaining the entire cover in a taut condition on the associated article of furniture, and means separably uniting the adjoining marginal edges of the outer panels of said back and side envelopes at the rear of an article of furniture to which the cover is applied.

, 4. A removable upholstery cover for articles of furniture of the type embodying a frame formed to constitute a seat, a back and side arms with restricted slots provided between adjacent portions of the seat, back and arms, said cover comprising a flexible sheet cut and united to present envelopes for the reception of the seat, back and side arms of the associated article of furniture, said back and arm envelopes each including inner and outer panels, and said seat envelope having a top panel shaped to extend overl the top of the seat of the associated article of furniture, the inner panels of the back and side arm envelopes and the top panel of the seat envelope being marginally joined for passage through the slots provided between the back, side arms and seat of. the associated article of furniture. so that when `the cover is applied said united margins are disposed exteriorly of the associated article of furniture adjacent the seat thereof, and a plurality of flexible fastening bands attached to said margins and extended beneath the seat of the associated article of furniture, and means for separably fastening the ends of said bands in a manner maintaining the entire cover in a stretched and taut condition of application on the associated article of furniture.

5. A removable upholstery cover as specified in claim 4 and wherein the lower marginal edge portions of the cover are provided with a furniture frame concealing flounce.

6. The combination with an upholstered article of furniture, embodying a frame which includes cushioned seat, back and side arms, adjacent portions of said seat, back and side arms being slightly separated to form restricted slots, of a removable cover for said article of furniture embodying a flexible sheeting formed to cover the inner and outer surfaces of said back and side arms and the top and outer surfaces of said seat, contiguous portions of said cover being passed through said slots and terminated exteriorly of the article of furniture contiguous to the lower part of said seat, and fastening means joined directly with said exteriorly terminating portions of the cover, said fastening means passing beneath said seat for securing said cover in a taut and removable manner on said article of furniture.

7. Slip cover construction for articles of furniture comprising: flexible sheeting embodying united back, side arms and seat-covering envelopes receiving, respectively, the seat, back and side arms of an associated article of furniture; said back and arm envelopes each including inner and outer panels and said seat envelope having a top panel shaped to extend over the seat of the associated article of furniture; the inner panels of the back and side arm envelopes and the top panel of the seat envelope being marginally joined and terminated exteriorly of said article of furniture below the horizontal plane of said top panel when the cover is applied; flexible tie means united with the marginally joined panels for maintaining lsaid cover in an applied position on said article of furniture; said tie means passing beneath the seat structure of said article of furniture from the sides, front and back of said cover to hold the latter against displacement on said article of furniture; and means separably uniting the adjoining marginal panels of said back and side envelopes at the rear of the article of furniture.

8. A slip cover as defined in claim 7, and wherein the means separably uniting the adjoining marginal panels of said back and side envelopes at the rear of the article of furniture are disposed at oneI side only of the cover when applied to a chair or other article of furniture and extend from a plane defining the top of an adjacent side arm envelope to the bottom of the cover.

JULIA RYAN RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,840,995 Wishmeier Jan. 12, 1932 2,086,640 Reynolds July 13, 1937 2,100,868 Oppenheimer Nov. 30, 1937 

